Jess Anderson
BBC Sport journalist

Coventry's dismal return to the Premier League continued as Brighton condemned them to a fourth successive defeat of the season, while the Sky Blues' wait for a league goal goes on.

Frank Lampard's side became only the second in Premier League history to lose their first four matches without scoring - after Crystal Palace in 2017-18 - while it is the first time in Coventry's history they have failed to register a goal or point in their first four league matches.

Only in 1919-20 - their first league campaign - have they lost each of their first four league matches.

Brighton enjoyed the brighter start at CBS Arena with Charalampos Kostoulas heading wide and hitting the side netting-before opening the scoring on 35 minutes with a superb individual goal.

Having turned and headed the ball down between two defenders, teenager Kostoulas bounced his effort into the ground and beyond goalkeeper Carl Rushworth.

It came as a hammer blow for Coventry, who had weathered the early storm and been enjoying a period of dominance when they should have scored at least one of their eight chances.

Matters unravelled further in the second half as Brighton doubled their lead and Coventry went down to 10 men in the space of two minutes.

Malick Yalcouye exposed the Coventry defence when he headed the ball down and put himself through on goal before slotting into the bottom corner.

Things went from bad to worse when forward Taiwo Awoniyi was shown a straight red card for a flailing elbow on Maxim de Cuyper, leaving his side with a mountain to climb.

Bobby Thomas then carelessly brought down Kostoulas in the penalty box in the 70th minute before Pascal Gross converted from the penalty spot.

An emphatic 20-yard finish from Seagulls captain Lewis Dunk in the 83rd minute was enough to put the points way out of sight before Yasin Ayari rifled home late in stoppage time to wrap up a thumping victory for Fabian Hurzeler's side and further compound Coventry's misery.

Victory lifts Brighton to fourth in the table, while Coventry remain rooted to the bottom.

Coventry misery compounded on miserable afternoon

The game became very, very difficult for us - Frank Lampard on Coventry defeat

Coventry's performances this season perhaps deserve more than their situation suggests.

They pushed Manchester City close in a tight 1-0 loss last time out when they were unlucky not to leave Etihad Stadium with at least a point.

But Lampard said before the match against Brighton that this could be a more difficult task than the one against Enzo Maresca's side, and so it proved as the unwanted records accumulate.

Their eight first-half chances yielded an xG (expected goals) of 1.09, their best of the season so far, but again a lack of potency in front of goal proved costly.

Brilliant saves from Verbruggen denied Jack Rudoni and Frank Onyeka on the volley, while Rudoni also hit the side-netting.

The hosts looked to get on the front foot in the second half too, but Yalcouye's goal to double Brighton's lead, quickly followed by Awoniyi's sending-off, was enough to sap the energy from the newly promoted side.

The result was a brutal reminder of what can happen when things begin to spiral in this league and, having showed signs of promise last week, it served as a reality check for Lampard's team and highlighted how difficult staying up will be.

Despite two late goals rubbing salt in the wound for the hosts, large sections of their supporters continued to serenade their players and manager at full-time in an attempt to galvanise their team in what will be a tough campaign.

The second goal completely changed the momentum - Fabian Hurzeler on Brighton's victory

Player of the match

B. Verbruggen
8.50
19 C. Rushworth
3.98
5 J. Rudoni
3.82
10 E. Mason-Clark
3.67
23 B. Thomas-Asante
3.55
3 J. Dasilva
3.48
16 F. Onyeka
3.48
49 S. Cherif
3.46
27 M. van Ewijk
3.45
8 C. Yirenkyi
3.40
6 M. Grimes
3.32
29 V. Torp
3.31
24 A. Amenda
3.29
4 B. Thomas
3.25
2 E. Pinnock
3.18
14 T. Awoniyi
2.64
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